Device for applying flavorings to a medium

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for applying preferably liquid flavorings ( 15 ), in particular menthol, to a medium ( 16 ), wherein flavoring ( 15 ) is supplyable from a (storage or processing) container ( 10 ) to an applicator unit ( 14 ) via at least one conduit ( 11, 13 ). The invention is characterized in that the applicator unit ( 14 ) has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring ( 15 ) to the medium ( 16 ).

STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of International PatentApplication No. PCT/EP2012/004530 having an International Filing Date of30 Oct. 2012, which claims the benefit of German Patent Application No.10 2011 118 354.3 having a filing date of 14 Nov. 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for applying preferably liquidflavorings, in particular menthol, to a medium, in particular to a blankfor an inner liner of a cigarette pack, wherein flavoring is supplyablefrom a (storage or processing) container to an applicator unit via atleast one conduit.

2. Prior Art

The supply of menthol as a flavoring is known in practice in variousvariants. In this context, menthol may by supplied in liquid form duringthe formation of a tobacco strand, for example. Here, menthol is sprayedtoward the tobacco strand by means of a nozzle. Accordingly, the mediumin this case is the tobacco strand. However, the application of mentholto filters (filter ends) of cigarettes or to cigarette paper forwrapping the tobacco strand is also known in practice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding therefrom, the invention is based on the object of refiningdevices of the type mentioned at the outset.

A device for achieving this object is a device for applying preferablyliquid flavorings, in particular menthol, to a medium, in particular toa blank for an inner liner of a cigarette pack, wherein flavoring issupplyable from a (storage or processing) container to an applicatorunit via at least one conduit, characterized in that the applicator unithas a controllable valve for the application of flavoring to the medium,wherein flavoring is supplyable to the applicator unit in apressure-controlled manner. It is accordingly provided that theapplicator unit has a controllable valve for the application offlavoring to the medium, wherein flavoring is supplyable to theapplicator unit in a pressure-controlled manner.

It may furthermore be provided that elements of the device for handlingflavoring are, at least in part, heatable, wherein a heating-regulatingunit for controlling and/or regulating the heating of at least someelements is provided, wherein the elements preferably comprisecontainers, conduits, valves and the applicator unit.

It is preferably provided that the container, or each of the containers,is assigned a weighing unit, in particular a weighing cell, fordetermining the amount of flavoring in the container, wherein preferablya filling-level indication means for the amount of flavoring in thecontainer is provided.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that theelements of the device are connected to a machine controller viaconduits.

A first specialty may consist in that flavoring is stored in thecontainer under preferably low pressure, in particular a pressure ofbelow 0.5 bar, and, by way of the pressure in the container, is directlyand/or indirectly supplyable to the applicator unit, wherein thepressure in the container is preferably controllable by means of avalve, in particular a proportional valve.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the container is not pressurizedand flavoring is supplyable to the applicator unit by means of a pumpunit.

An alternative variant may provide that the container is not pressurizedand flavoring is supplyable to the applicator unit by means of aconveying unit, preferably in such a manner that, by means of theconveying unit, flavoring is supplied from a non-pressurized storagecontainer to a processing container situated at a higher level and, fromthere, is supplyable via a conduit to the applicator unit situated at alower level. In this case, in particular, it may be provided that, inthe region of the conveying unit, a conveying path is encapsulated inorder to counteract any volatilization of the flavoring.

A further specialty may consist in that a plurality of, in particulartwo, containers having flavorings are provided which are in each caseconnected via a conduit to a switchover valve for alternatinglycontrolling the supply of flavoring from one of the two containers tothe applicator unit. The advantage of this solution, in particular, mayconsist in that one container in each case may be filled whileflavorings are being withdrawn from the other container. On account ofthis, continuous operation of the device is ensured.

In one preferred refinement of the invention, it is furthermore providedthat the elements of the device are fixedly interconnected via conduits.In this manner, coupling elements or the like, which have proven to besusceptible to malfunctioning, can be dispensed with.

The device according to the invention is particularly suited to thecyclical, but also continuous, application of menthol to blanks forcigarette packs, for example inner liners. Here, application may takeplace to individual blanks, but also to a (continuous) material web forthe blanks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described inthe following on the basis of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first variant of a device for applying flavorings, in aschematic illustration,

FIG. 2 shows a second variant of a device for applying flavorings, in aschematic illustration,

FIG. 3 shows a third variant of a device for applying flavorings, in aschematic illustration, and

FIG. 4 shows a fourth variant of a device for applying flavorings, in aschematic illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first variant of a device for applying flavorings is shown in theschematic illustration according to FIG. 1.

Flavorings here are kept available in two containers 10. A conduit 11leads from each of the containers 10 to a valve 12. A further conduit 13leads from the valve 12 to an applicator unit 14. The applicator unit 14serves for the application of flavoring 15 to a medium 16.

For the uniform distribution of flavoring 15 on the medium 16, adistributor element 17 is provided adjacent to the applicator unit 14.

The elements of the device which have been described so far areheatable. A heating-regulating unit 18, which is connected to thementioned elements via conduits 19, serves for controlling and/orregulating the heating.

Weighing units 20, in particular in the form of weighing cells, areassigned to each of the two containers 10. With said weighing units 20,the filling level of the containers 10 is measured. In order to indicatethe filling levels of the containers 10, a filling-level indicationmeans 21 is connected to the weighing units 20 via conduits 22.

The containers 10 are pressurized at a low pressure of <0.5 bar.Pressure control takes place by way of a switchover valve 23 and aproportional valve 24.

A machine controller 25, which, via conduits 26, is connected to theapplicator unit 14, the heating-regulating unit 18, the valve 12, thevalve 23, the proportional valve 24 and the filling-level indicationmeans 21, is provided for controlling the device.

The device described so far substantially functions as follows:flavoring 15 is conveyed out of the containers 10 by means of positivepressure, wherein, by means of the valve 12, it is controlled from whichof the two containers 10 flavoring 15 passes to the applicator unit 14.

The applicator unit 14 contains a controllable valve for the applicationof flavoring 15 to the medium 16. In the shown exemplary embodiment, themedium 16 is a blank for an inner liner of a cigarette pack.

During the application of flavoring 15, the medium 16 is moved past theapplicator unit 14, the valve being located at a short distance from themedium 16. Applied flavoring 15 is uniformly distributed by way of thedistributor element 17, which may be configured as a smoothing strip,for example. Alternatively, the valve of the applicator unit 14 may alsosubstantially bear on the medium 16.

The pressure in the containers 10 is regulated via the proportionalvalve 24 and the switchover valve 23. The proportional valve 24 servesfor regulating the pressure. By means of the switchover valve 23, thepressure is directed to that container 10 which is in operation.

As soon as a low filling level is detected in preferably one of thecontainers 10 by means of the weighing units 20, said container 10 isaccordingly swapped for a filled container 10, or the container 10 isfilled in situ. Preferably, conveying is in each case performed onlyfrom one container 10 at a time. However, it is also conceivable forflavoring 15 to be conveyed simultaneously from both containers 10.

The flavoring 15, in the present case, is menthol which is preferablyprocessed in liquid form. The use of other flavoring or aromaticsubstances in other states of matter is, however, also conceivable.

FIG. 2 shows a second variant of the device. From a non-pressurizedcontainer 10 for receiving flavoring 15, flavoring 15 is conveyed via aheatable conduit 11, by means of a pump unit 27 which is arranged in theconduit 11, to the applicator unit 14 and, as described above, appliedto the medium 16. The pump unit 27 may be a gear pump, for example.

Again, a heating-regulating unit 18 is connected to the elements of thedevice via conduits 19. A machine controller 25 controls, or regulates,the applicator unit 14, the heating unit 18 and the pump unit 27 viaconduits 26.

Flavoring 15 is filled into the container 10 via a filling funnel 28, isliquefied owing to the heating of the container 10, and, by means of thepump unit 27, is pumped from the container 10 to the applicator unit 14and applied to the medium 16.

A further variant of the device is shown in FIG. 3. From anon-pressurized container 10, flavoring 15 is supplied, via a conveyingunit 29, to a container 10, which is arranged at a higher level and isheatable. Flavoring 15 is supplied from the container 10 via a conduit11 to the applicator unit 14.

As is the case in the preceding exemplary embodiments, aheating-regulating unit 18 having corresponding conduits 19 and amachine controller 25 having corresponding conduits 26 are provided.

In the present case, the conveying unit 29 is configured as a bucketconveyor which, proceeding from the lower container 10, is arranged inan encapsulated or enclosed casing 30.

When processing menthol as flavoring 15, menthol crystals aretransported by means of the elevator conveyor into the container 10which is at a higher level and heatable. The container 10, for example,may be situated 3 or 4 m above the machine or the applicator unit 14, inorder to build up the corresponding pressure for transporting thementhol that has been molten or liquefied therein.

A fourth variant for applying flavorings is shown in the schematicillustration according to FIG. 4.

Flavorings here are kept available in two containers 10, 31. From afirst container 31, which serves as a storage container, a conduit 11leads, via a valve 23, to a second container 10, which serves as aprocessing container. A conduit 13 leads from the second container 10 tothe applicator unit 14.

The elements of the device which have been described so far areheatable. A heating-regulating unit 18, which is connected to thementioned elements via conduits 19, serves for controlling and/orregulating the heating.

Weighing units 20, in particular in the form of weighing cells, areassigned to each of the two containers 10. With said weighing units 20,the filling level of the containers 10 is measured. In order to indicatethe filling levels of the containers 10, a filling-level indicationmeans 21 is connected to the weighing units 20 via conduits 22.

Both containers 10, 31 are pressurized by positive pressure. The(storage) container 31, which is on the left in FIG. 4, when required,feeds liquid flavoring 15, or menthol, to the (processing) container 10,which is on the right in FIG. 4. The right-hand container 10 ispressurized at a low pressure of <0.5 bar. Pressure control of bothcontainers 10, 31 takes place in each case by way of a proportionalvalve 24.

A machine controller 25, which, via conduits 26, is connected to theapplicator unit 14, the heating-regulating unit 18, the valve 12, thevalve 23, the proportional valves 24 and the filling-level indicationmeans 21, is provided for controlling the device.

It is preferably provided in all exemplary embodiments that the conduits11, 13, which carry menthol, or flavoring 15, are fixedly connected tothe elements of the device. Alternatively, it is conceivable to employcoupling pieces, for example between the conduits 11, 13 and thecontainer 10, 31, the valves 23 and the applicator unit. In this case,for example, the container 31 in FIG. 4 may be used for filling aplurality of containers 10, for example in different product lines.

The devices described are, of course, suitable upon the application offlavorings 15 other than menthol. The application of flavoring 15 tomedia other than blanks or material webs of packaging material, forexample to tobacco or filter pieces, etc., is also conceivable.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

10 Container

11 Conduit

12 Valve

13 Conduit

14 Applicator unit

15 Flavoring

16 Medium

17 Distributor element

18 Heating-regulating unit

19 Conduit

20 Weighing unit

21 Filling-level indication means

22 Conduit

23 Switchover valve

24 Proportional valve

25 Machine controller

26 Conduit

27 Pump unit

28 Feeding funnel

29 Conveying unit

30 Casing

31 Container

1. A device for applying preferably liquid flavorings (15), inparticular menthol, to a medium (16), in particular to a blank for aninner liner of a cigarette pack, wherein flavoring (15) is supplyablefrom a (storage or processing) container (10, 31) to an applicator unit(14) via at least one conduit (11, 13), wherein the applicator unit (14)has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring (15) to themedium (16), wherein flavoring (15) is supplyable to the applicator unit(14) in a pressure-controlled manner.
 2. The device as claimed in claim1, wherein elements of the device for handling flavoring (15) are, atleast in part, heatable, wherein a heating-regulating unit (18) forcontrolling and/or regulating the heating of at least some elements isprovided, wherein the elements preferably comprise containers (10),conduits (11, 13), valves (12) and the applicator unit (14).
 3. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (10) is assigned aweighing unit (20), in particular a weighing cell, for determining theamount of flavoring (15) in the container (10), wherein preferably afilling-level indication means (21) for the amount of flavoring (15) inthe container (10) is provided.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 2,wherein the elements of the device are connected to a machine controller(25) via preferably heatable conduits (26).
 5. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein flavoring (15) is stored in the container (10) underpreferably low pressure, in particular a pressure of below 0.5 bar, and,by way of the pressure in the container (10), is directly and/orindirectly feedable to the applicator unit (14), wherein the pressure inthe container (10) is preferably controllable by means of a valve, inparticular a proportional valve (24).
 6. The device as claimed in claim1, wherein a plurality of, in particular two, containers (10) areprovided which are in each case connected via a conduit to a switchovervalve (12) for alternatingly controlling the supply of flavoring (15)from one of the two containers (10) to the applicator unit (14).
 7. Thedevice as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elements of the device arefixedly interconnected via conduits (11, 13).
 8. The device as claimedin claim 1, wherein the medium (16) is a material web for an inner linerof a cigarette box.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, forthe application of flavoring (15), the medium (16) is movable past theapplicator unit (14).
 10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thevalve of the applicator unit (14) is arranged at a short distance from,or bears on, the medium (16).
 11. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein flavoring (15) applied to the medium (16) can be preferablyuniformly distributed by a distributor element (17), in particular asmoothing strip, which is arranged adjacent to the applicator unit (14).12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure in thecontainer (10) or the containers (10) is regulatable by means of aproportional valve (24).
 13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,by means of a switchover valve (23), the pressure is in each casesupplyable from one of a plurality of containers (10).
 14. The device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the container (10) is not pressurized andflavoring (15) is supplyable to the applicator unit (14) by means of apump unit (27).
 15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecontainer (10) is not pressurized and flavoring (15) is supplyable tothe applicator unit (14) by means of a conveying unit (29).